Benefits of the Water and Land Legacy Amendment

Florida’s hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists would benefit from the Florida Water and Land Legacy Amendment.

By Rick Dantzler, Manley Fuller and Preston RobertsonSpecial to the Star-Banner

Florida’s hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists would benefit from the Florida Water and Land Legacy Amendment.Since 1990, both Republican and Democratic governors have endorsed setting aside a portion of tax money generated from the transfer of real property to be used to protect and conserve our state’s remaining lands and waters.Florida’s landmark land protection programs — Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever — have helped save millions of sensitive acres from Pensacola to the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, recent legislative actions have greatly diminished the resources going toward conservation. So, in order to safeguard what remains of wild Florida, a constitutional amendment has been proposed that would earmark a percentage of existing documentary stamp taxes for environmental purposes. Taxes would not be raised.Under the amendment, funds would be used to acquire new properties for resource-based outdoor recreation, including hunting. Buffering areas surrounding estuaries would be protected and restored, enhancing fisheries. Moreover, public properties would be better managed, ensuring better experiences for those who use them, and funds would benefit Everglades restoration.These are but a few of the benefits of the amendment, and it is important that we act now. Florida’s population is projected to grow by more than 6 million people by the year 2040. In percentage terms, that means that Florida’s population will grow by nearly a third in approximately the next 25 years. Funds will be allocated to protect and restore our wetlands and waters.Simply put, we are running out of time to protect critical environmental ecosystems before they are converted to housing subdivisions or carved up and drained. Indeed, the documentary stamp tax is an appropriate funding mechanism since it is a tax that is, by and large, levied on the growth that is threatening these natural systems.Nothing in the amendment prohibits hunting on any of the properties acquired. In fact, many of the properties will be available for hunting. Current governmental processes will be used to determine usage. The amendment will benefit a wide variety of outdoor recreational interests as well as protect significant habitat statewide.Please support this effort by going to www.FloridaWaterLandLegacy.org and see how you can help. The time is now to take the necessary steps to protect the natural wonders that make our state so special. The effort especially needs contributions and volunteers willing to collect petitions signed by registered Florida voters.

Rick Dantzler is the author of three books, and a former Florida state representative and state senator, Manley Fuller is the president of Florida Wildlife Federation and Preston Robertson is its vice president of Conservation and General Counsel. All three are active outdoor recreationists who enjoy hunting and fishing in Florida.